Some things get lost in translation. I was shown a video of a Muslim imam. He was urging his viewers to boycott PEPSI. Did he find a building in Tel Aviv that was purchased with a donation from PEPSI? No! Did he find Israeli tanks rolling into Gaza with the PEPSI logo? No! He found something much worse.
The distinguished imam found a hidden message in the name of PEPSI itself. For an English speaking viewer, it is comical to watch the imam explain the hidden message.
"Pay Every Penny to Save Israel."
For a Muslim in a religious town or village, an imam delivering his message on television has the authority of tradition wedded to modern technology. There is no one to correct little inaccuracies such as the fact that there are only 100 cents to the dollar. The imam himself admits that his son knows more than he does about the intricacies of which companies to boycott. Apparently, such information is as popular as baseball scores and MTV are in America.
The imam who was urging a PEPSI boycott was broadcasting in Egypt, which keeps a tight rein on its press. Despite its peace treaty with Israel, it continues to use hatred f Israel as a safety valve.
To shed a bit more light on what makes such thinking appealing, one need only look at Saudi children's TV to see a three year old girl talk about Jews being monkeys and pigs. In both Egypt and Saudi Arabia, there is a strong tie between what the government allows and encourages and what is preached in the mosque. The three year old who is speaking did not pull her words out of thin air. She was taught such hatred in government approved schools. The imam was not under the influence of alcohol. Of that we may be certain.
The prospects for peace with Israel look poor indeed when we look at the indoctrination that goes on in Arab countries. It presents a stark contrast to the image of Arabs presented in Israeli schools.
Max Blumenthal made a video of drunken kids running their mouths that has gone viral on the internet. He would do well to contrast how Arabs are educated about Jews and how Jews are taught about Arabs. This would present a far more useful contrast than going bar hopping with a camcorder.
Hatred of Jews seems to be an addiction in the Arab world. The rifts between Shiite and Sunni, Baathist and Islamist are only a couple of the simmering disputes that are given temporary respite by focusing on Jews. Rather than inhaling the opiate of hatred, it would be far better for the Arab world to find a reason for enisting not dependent upon hate.
If the PEPSI speech were that of a fringe lunatic, it could be laughed off. If we are talking about a fringe sect of Islam preaching virulent hatred, it would be merely something to be mindful of. But the video clips of Saudi children's TV and Egyptian religious programming show the face of a state religion with the veil thrown back.
Watching Obama's speech to the Islamic world was like sitting in a darkened bar with only strobe lights and silhouettes visible. Watching video footage from Arab TV is like throwing the lights on and seeing the cigarette burns in the carpet, the tears in the upholstery and being reminded that a night of drinking will not transform ugliness into beauty.
Max Blumenthal's drunk Jews did not look pretty. But the hate from Riyadh and Cairo is stone cold sober. So there is no excuse.
PEPSI is a zionist plot
Arab Children's TV takes on Jews and Pepsi
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